|
2 / 21 / 09 /// EXPLODED VIEWS IMMINENT!
The long-awaited Conifer Rock EP, Exploded Views, will be unleashed this Tuesday. As a little teaser, we've put together another little video clip, which you can watch on the Square Root Records YouTube site, right here.
Here are a few pictures from the Conifer Rock show in Grand Rapids last week... You can see more of them (and larger images) on the Square Root Flickr site.
2 / 11 / 09 /// CONIFER ROCK LIVE IN GRAND RAPIDS
Conifer Rock will be performing at the Mixtape Cafe in downtown Grand Rapids next Tuesday (February 17th) at 6:30pm. He'll be playing new material from his Exploded Views record for the first time, in anticipation of the EP's release on February 24th. I've also been told that he'll be dipping into the Conifer Rock back catalog, which is very exciting...
2 / 8 / 09 /// PLANS FOR THE YEAR
2008 was a particularly exciting year for us - we released seven records, almost half of our entire catalogue. These releases included dynamic new material from label stalwarts Cantilever and Conifer Rock, in which both artists explored new sonic territory -- acoustic songwriting, microscopic instrumentals, etc. We also brought you the debut recordings from Timwarrenmusic and Tokyo Morose, two new additions to our artist roster that took our music in unexpected new directions.
2009 is going to be just as good. We have a slate of new projects lined up, starting with four releases for the next couple of months. Take a look...
 |
|
SQR018 - CONIFER ROCK / EXPLODED VIEWS
Available - February 24, 2009
--------------------------------
After exploring fuzzy rock on the Show Me Some Heart single and acoustic ballads on the Wood Creaks EP, Conifer Rock turns to gritty glam pop with Exploded Views. This record is a concentrated barrage of dirty synths, guitars, and expertly crafted percussion, with layers of vocals on top. This is Conifer Rock's "pop" album, if you will, but pop like only he could do. We're very excited about this one, which comes out in two weeks... |
 |
|
SQR015 - CENTRE / ANOTHER YEAR
Available - March 2009
--------------------------------
Centre makes his long-anticipated return with two EPs, Another Year and L'Enfant Coma. Drawing inspiration from post-punk, acid house, ambient guitar, and shoegaze, Centre's music is pop from an alternate universe. Another Year is a more digital affair, focusing on synth pulses, drum machines, and delay pedals. The EP is built around the solitary vocal track, Take It or Leave It, an exquisite pop gem up there with the likes of New Order and the Cure. |
 |
|
SQR016 - CENTRE / L'ENFANT COMA
Available - March 2009
--------------------------------
While the Another Year EP is connected more to the digital post-punk world, its companion piece, L'Enfant Coma, moves towards atmospheric guitar, somewhat akin to the Durutti Column or R.E.M. The three-track instrumental EP incorporates subtle drum machines, pitched bells, effects loops, and the occasional field recording to create a subdued sense of melancholy, ending with an extended ambient drone version of the title song. |
 |
|
SQR019 - SEAN PATRICK / FLIGHT
Available - March 24, 2009
--------------------------------
After the pop obsession of the previous three records, we turn to Sean Patrick's Flight project, a study in distorted ambient music, white noise and tape loops. Sean's been experimenting with these sorts of sound manipulations for the past few years, and we think this is some of his strongest work yet. Flight is a joint release between Square Root and Andras Klang, Sean's own label, and it will be a CD/DVD release. That's right, we're getting into films.... |
All this and more: We have new material from Cantilever and Timwarrenmusic in the works, as well as the long-awaited full-length album from Spectral Mornings. We have more live performances lined up, as well as the odd surprise or two... We've also started a blog, so you can check that out, if you feel so inclined: squarerootrecords.blogspot.com.
To join our e-mail mailing list, click here to contact us.
2 / 5 / 09 /// REVIEWS FROM TEXTURA
Good evening... This month's issue of Textura includes lovely reviews of both Cantilever's Idalis/Hadalis album and Tokyo Morose's Specific Ocean EP. Textura's a great site, and we appreciate being mentioned...
Here's what they had to say about Idalis/Hadalis:
"The primary pieces, “Idalis” and “Hadalis,” were created as a single, multi-layered composition which was then split into separate pieces by adding and removing specific layers. Consequently, the two pieces sound both similar and different, and the same basic description is applicable to both: each fuses crystalline IDM melodies with grimier electronic funk patterns that incessantly whirr, sputter, shuffle, and writhe, and with mangled beats that babble and pop throughout—the one amounting to a slightly distorted refraction of the other."
"In executing the project, Streeting set out to explore a number of themes, such as the effects of juxtaposition and the ease with which digital technologies enable endless variations to be generated from a set number of materials. The recording succeeds in realizing said explorations but also as a purely musical exercise that one can enjoy with no awareness of the formal strategies that were involved in its production."
And here's what they had to say about the Tokyo Morose EP:
"The trio strikes an appealing balance between spontaneous interplay and through-composition, and a human heart beats audibly at the material's center when the playing carries with it traces of human imperfection. With Lenau making full use of the instrument's singing tone and mournful cry, the viola is an effective lead voice, and the others embroider the surround with rich instrumental embellishments."
"Augmented by acoustic picking and pump organ, viola leads the charge in “Women Who Can't Say No,” as breezy and insistent as a summer bicycle ride through the countryside."
"Also noteworthy is Cantilever's bold “Here's the Man” makeover which pushes the material through a digital shredder and gives it a rambunctious funk thrust in the process."
You can read the Idalis/Hadalis review in full here, and the Specific Ocean review here. Both albums are available for free download, or you can purchase them on an old-fashioned CD.
2 / 1 / 09 /// IDALIS/HADALIS GETS SOME NICE WORDS
Forest Gospel had some nice things to say about SQR013, Cantilever's Idalis/Hadalis record:
"Idalis/Hadalis is basically two ten minute tracks named “Idalis” and “Hadalis” followed by two additional ten minute tracks with these first ones variously folded atop one another. The compositions are compacted thickly with a barrage of various percussive clicks, ticks and tocks and propelled by warm, synthesized melodies throughout. Assessed simply, Idalis/Hadalis is perfect electronic ear candy for traversing through any modern city. In fact, it sounds kind of like what you would imagine after seeing transit - whether pedestrian or by car – that’s been videoed from a still shot and then fast-forwarded. I love it. It’s super solid stuff in the vein of Morr Music before they started dipping their toes into more pop oriented pools. I’m thinking Mum when they released Yesterday Is Dramatic - Today Is OK. It’s pretty straight-forward, heady, brain exhilarating electronica."
You can read the whole review here. Idalis/Hadalis is available for download right now...
1 / 29 / 09 /// SQR017 - SPRING RAIN
We thought we'd give you a nice little present today, in the form of Spring Rain, the new single from Spectral Mornings. The band quite radically rearranged its sound in the beginning of 2008, moving away from epic post-rock-influenced structures towards a smaller, more minimal sound, drawing inspiration from synth-pop and post-punk. Spring Rain was the first song that the band wrote under this new aesthetic, so it's only fitting that it has become the first single from the band's forthcoming album.
The song comes accompanied by a b-side, Ballroom Beaches, which is a rather stately affair, built on hushed electronic percussion, off-kilter synth loops, and a globular chorus that might have Vangelis or Klaus Schulze turning their heads.
Both songs also prominently feature vocals, another important component of the band's new sound. You can download both songs with artwork by clicking on the link to the right, or you can listen to individual mp3s here:
Spring Rain
Ballroom Beaches
You can even purchase the single on CD, like in the old days. It comes packaged in a nice chipboard sleeve, assembled by hand, accompanied by a poster. The Paypal link is over on the right.
Have a good day...
1 / 22 / 09 /// MARQUETTE + SPRING RAIN
Just a quick reminder -- if you should happen to find yourselves in the middle of Michigan's Upper Peninsula this Saturday (January 24th), you can see Spectral Mornings perform at the 231 benefit concert at the Northstar Academy. This is the first time Spectral Mornings have performed in Marquette since 2005, so we're very excited about the show. It's for a good cause, too.
If you're at the show, you'll be able to pick up an advance copy of the new Spectral Mornings single, Spring Rain (SQR017). These are some nice, old-fashioned CD singles, with a b-side entitled Ballroom Beaches, a song which ranks among the Mornings' best work to date. The CDs come packaged in a beautiful chipboard sleeve, along with a poster print.
The single will be available to download and to purchase on CD from this site next week.
1 / 19 / 09 /// AWARD NOMINATIONS...
Hello.... We're pleased to announce that two of our 2008 releases have been nominated for awards at the Jammies, WYCE's annual awards show. This is the tenth anniversary of the Jammies here in Grand Rapids, and WYCE is a strong independent voice on the airwaves, so we're very proud to have been part of their playlists this year.
As for the nominations -- Sitzmaschine by Timwarrenmusic (SQR010) and Specific Ocean by Tokyo Morose (SQR014) have both been nominated for best alternative/electronic record of the year. Tokyo Morose have been nominated for best new artist and for best local contemporary artist or group. The Sitzmashine and Specific Ocean albums are also in the running for album of the year, which would be quite spectacular... Both albums have also been nominated for the People's Choice award, and you can vote for either record by following this link: WYCE People's Choice
You can read an article on Mlive with all the Jammies nominations right here.
It's worth mentioning that Tim Warren is obviously involved with both of these projects, so, if he should win one of these awards, he will forever have to deal with the concept that he is, in some way, better than himself...
1 / 17 / 09 /// CONIFER ROCK GETS BACK
Square Root's own Conifer Rock has been toiling away throughout the winter working on his next record, Exploded Views, and we must say that this one is absolute monster. Glam rock meets noise textures meets lo fi meets live electro. You have been warned.
The EP is due to drop at the end of February. Between now and then, we'll be teasing you with a few video clips, the first of which you can see on YouTube right here.
1 / 10 / 09 /// SPECTRAL MORNINGS RETURN TO MARQUETTE
Incredibly, Spectral Mornings' debut live performance was in Marquette, Michigan over five years ago. It was at the Upfront & Co in October, 2003. The band's history has a direct connection with the town of Marquette, since it developed its early sound by playing at a large number of local shows between 2003 and 2005 and making some great friendships within the Marquette music community. One of the most important parts of that community was the 231 House of Muses gallery. The gallery was the site of many great memories, both for Spectral Mornings, who first played there in the spring of 2004, and, of course, for the Marquette music scene as a whole. Unfortunately, the 231 gallery was destroyed in a fire recently, and a cornerstone of Marquette's indepenent art and music scene was lost.
The determination of that music scene was not lost, however -- a memorial compilation album has been put together to document the gallery's musical history. Spectral Mornings are proud to be a part of this album -- their track "I Have Lost Everything," recorded in 2007 with third member (and Marquette native) Chad McKinney, will be included on the CD.
Spectral Mornings will also be performing at a benefit concert for the 231 House of Muses, which will be held at the Northstar Academy in Marquette on Saturday, January 24. This will be the band's first performance in Marquette in over three years, and they can't think of a better reason to make their return.
The band will have a new CD single, Spring Rain / Ballroom Beaches, for sale at the show, and all proceeds from the sale will be given directly to the 231 House of Muses memorial fund.
PAGE 3 (EVEN OLDER NEWS) ///
MAIN PAGE /// |
|
|
